Hi gang, Disclaimer: Just so we're clear; all I do here is share impressions, opinions, observations and conclusions based on those observations. By no means am I trying to imply that I'm an expert of some sort. I'm not. Well... Never haven been bitten by a dog in my entire life? But no, I don't act based on knowledge, only on expertise and personal impressions. Why share? Because it's fun, and because I love dogs. Last Saturday / Sunday my gf came over and we had a good time. At one point we decided to take a walk and came across a rather small sidewalk which featured... a huge dog (huge = covers the entire sidewalk and when it stands up it's pretty much half my height, pretty big). I love dogs My gf is less enthusiast about 'm and even less so when they start growling, which this one did. My only problem: I wasn't going to back down so despite my gf rather taking a (small) detour I walked up to it (carefully of course), did what I do and the next moment we step over the dog who doesn't mind us at all anymore and we continue on our way. When my gf asked me why it growled at us in the first place I had a good theory (so I think): would you enjoy people walking up to you to wipe their hands off your fur while it's 30 degrees Celcius (around 86 degrees Fahrenheit) out there? I sure wouldn't! Meh, I figured I'd share some tips (theories?) which really work well for me when it comes to approaching dogs... Please note: in totally random order, these aren't tips on how you can best approach them or how you can best avoid them, etc. Just a random bunch of tips which I think could be useful when you're dealing with a dog (depending on the situation): Don't greet a strange dog by trying to pet it. Instead: at best stick your hand out so that it can get a good dose of your scent IF it wants to. However: always keep a sharp eye out on how the dog reacts. Body language is key. When it wags its tail while you approach it there's little risk, but if it starts growling you might want to think twice before your next move. Please don't shove your hand in its face Just hold out your hand, if its interested enough it will come over and sniff you. However... always be alert for possible danger. My theory: dogs mostly work based on scent. Your clothes can pick up tons of extra scents which totally isn't you. By sticking out your (bare) hand you're giving the dog an honest option to pick up your scent so that it can recognize you. Try it sometimes, you might end up being surprised how many dogs recognize and pick up your gesture as intended (they sniff your hand and then they're satisfied). Think basic and linear. These are animals we're dealing with who follow their instincts. When you meet a dog lying on a sidewalk you can safely conclude that this isn't its home territory. And it will definitely realize that as well. This is very important to know because there's a huge difference between walking up to a dog on "neutral grounds" (such as a sidewalk which is basically strange territory for both of you) or walking up to a dog at its home ground (around the area where it lives; this is a major difference because according to the rules of nature you're the intruder now!). My theory: dogs know very well when they are the "intruder". For example when the dog of a shop owner is walking inside the shop. It will usually fully realize that the people visiting have a right to be there, and in general they'll tolerate that. Just don't make the classic mistake by thinking that just because they're friendly towards you in the shop also implies that they fully trust you. There's a good chance that they still wouldn't want you around their basket, let alone their food bowl. If you approach them there they might even start growling. Because now you're the intruder. Whatever you do: if you're nervous about the dog then do NOT even bother trying to walk up to it, ignore it, best not pay it any attention at all. Either be confident in yourself or don't bother trying. Sometimes, from the dogs perspective, this can be a bit of a powerplay going on between the both of you. My theory: you're messing with the laws of nature here, and as harsh as it sounds those usually follow the simple rule of the strongest. If you're already approaching a dog while being insure or maybe even a little afraid then it will sense that and now they're the alpha who is in control. You really want to avoid that. Don't back down. You're in a shop and the shop owners dog is standing between you and the counter. If you decide to walk up to it and pass it to go to the counter then don't back down. Do or do not, there is no try. Because if you do back down... then the dog can definitely pick that up as it having dominance over you. Every dog is different, there is no rulebook here. There is a lot which dogs have in common. I've had plenty of success by just walking up to a dog, sticking my hand out without trying to pet it and in dozens of cases it would shove its nose and head into my hand making me convinced that we're good. Those are the moments when I sometimes would pet it, but always keeping a very close eye out for a possible counter reaction. Some dogs like being petted but only for so long, and it's important to realize this so that you don't risk annoying it. Especially if it's not your dog. Obviously: when you walk up to a dog and it's actively barking at you then that's "a little bit" different than walking up to a dog which is merely lying on the floor. Whatever you do: treating a dog with a little respect can go a very long way. Sure: dogs are "just" "dumb" animals. You'd be very surprised. Dogs are smarter than you may think or give them credit for. True story... Last summer (last year) I took on a side job for a few months to deliver mail. The mail got delivered to my house, I had to sort it, put it in my bicycle bag and deliver it. It was the perfect thing for me because I am self-employed meaning that some days I wake up, get breakfast and tea, sit down behind my PC and then stay there until WAY up in the evening. It doesn't help if "computering" is both your profession and your biggest hobby. This was a sure way for me to force myself to get out of the house a few days in the week. I'd get some good exercise and get paid as well (though... payment was kinda bad, but I never really cared about it that much). One area where I had to deliver mail was a villa resort. 8 large and pretty nice looking houses in the middle of no where (basically in the middle of a bush-rich environment). One of those houses had a guard dog. I don't know the race, I don't know the brand but it was a HUGE dog (its head easily reached my chest) and in my opinion the best friend a man can have. That dog was cool. So one sunny day I walk up to the house (I used to park my bicycle in the driveway leading up to the entire complex, it was much easier) and that dog is there. Now what? Well: I fall back to my rules and observations mentioned above. Yes, I am the intruder but no way that this dog didn't experience that before (HUGE assumption, it could be a new dog! But even then... would you leave a dog walking on its own if you just got it? I don't think so ). I walk up to it, I greet it (yes, that's the kind of person I am) and I stick my hand out with the letters I am about to deliver before I make one single attempt to walk onto the (fully open, no gates or such) premises. The dog sniffs my hand, "wruffs" and I tell it "thank you", and I walk up to the mailbox to put the letters in. I walk back to the exit of the lane to deliver the mail for the other houses while the dog follows me. At the end of the lane (near the open gate) I jokingly thank the dog for the escort, stick my hand out and when I don't see any "negative signs" (I also didn't see a waging talk) I stroke its head one time and leave it alone. At this time a female comes out (turned out to be the wife of the dogs owner) and told me that it doesn't bite but I should be a little careful. To which I respond "I know, thank you!". Yeah... she really didn't like that (so I heard afterwards) because when I walked up to the next house the dog decided to follow me I delivered the mail for all other 7 houses followed by the "dangerous" guard dog of the first house. And I know that the lady of the house did NOT appreciate this one single bit. But seriously.. I didn't do anything A few weeks later (still summer) I deliver mail again, this time only for number 1 and 6 (fictional numbers) and the dog was also out, together with his male owner. I walk up to them, greet them both and I ask him if he wants the mail now or if I should drop it in the box. "If you don't mind then I appreciate if you could give it to me, be careful of the dog though". To which I responded: "no problem", so now I step over their gate, walk up towards the owner and obviously the dog comes towards me. I stick my hand out again, I tell it: "Got a delivery to make boy" (but in Dutch), it once again pushes its snout into my hand and I walk up to the owner, no problem what so ever. His first comment: "Some guard dog.." (in a negative way). My immediate reaction: "I think your dog is much better than you give it credit for, all I did was being honest with it. I honestly wouldn't dream of any foul doing, and I think that your dog realizes this all too much". I also told him that even though I was friendly with the dog I honestly wouldn't dare even try to approach the house further than I did. After all: I never really intruded because many other mail delivery people did the same thing. I'm convinced that the dog would most likely react in a much different way. Unless I was to be invited of course. Why I'm telling you all this? Well... about those "dumb" dogs? A few months later I was in my home town doing some shopping when all of a sudden I heard a loud barking coming closer to me. Ayups... it was that same dog who somehow recognized me and ran up to me to greet me. Briefly, but still... it ran up, I greeted it and stroke his head and then it ran back. ....towards a laughing owner who also greeted me and a visibly annoyed wife Dumb animals? I beg to differ Bottom line: treat dogs with respect, don't force yourself onto them but also try to think about what THEY might want and I think you're going to have a much better time around dogs. Why not let them take the initiative every once in a while?
Thanks for sharing Shel! I am a dog owner myself, and I (no offense to any of the people) despise people who think dogs are free to pet. I’m walking to school and I pass a dog and then the kiddo behind me gets all up in that dog’s grill and starts cuddling with it. The owner looks super uncomfortable and i think that it is not cool to do that! It takes about 5 seconds to ask “Can I pet your dog?”. I think people who do ask are polite and I always allow people who ask to pet my dog, it pet my dog! Even when dealing with non - humans, you must be polite!
